Abstract
Cattle production has the potential of being an important component of sustainable agriculture globally. The ability to transform feed not suitable for humans into high-quality food will be of great importance in the long-term for feeding a growing population. Other aspects such as preservation of landscape values and maintenance of rural communities are highly appreciated values, especially in the industrialized part of the world.
To exploit the sustainable potential of cattle production systems, problems of pollution (such as ozone destruction, acid rain, and nitrate leaching) and of health and welfare, which are associated with cattle production, are critically reviewed. The possibilities of integrating cattle production with other types of production are evaluated. Cattle can be used for single purposes such as dairy, beef, and draught, but dairy cows can also be used for restricted suckling combining dairy and beef production. In addition a mixture of species makes grazing more efficient, and a combination of cattle and mixed cropping can increase resource efficiency.
The possibilities of using organic cattle production systems as prototypes of sustainable cattle production systems are explored. The effects of production constraints which are applied in organic farming systems are studied. The redirection of values and activities in agriculture is a challenge to cattle production research and to traditional research methodologies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aarts, H.F.M., E.E. Biewinga, G. Bruin, and H. Edel Band Korevoar. 1988.Milkveehouderij en milieu, Report No. 111. Lelystad, The Netherlands: Proofstation voor de Rundveehouderij.
Andersen, H.E. and K.L. Ingvartsen. 1991.Performance of Fattening Bulls Dependent on Housing System and Stocking Density. Rep. 686. Foulum, Denmark: Natl. Inst. Anim. Sci. 31 pp. [With English Summary.]
Arave, C.W. 1975. Behaviour, milk yield and leucocytes of dairy cows in reduced space and isolation.Journal of Dairy science 57: 1497–1501.
Bawden, R.J. 1991. Systems thinking and practice in agriculture.Journal of Dairy Science 74: 2362–2373.
Blaxter, K.L. 1962.The Energy Metabolism of Ruminants. London, U.K.: Hutchinson and Co. p. 196.
Collins, H.A. and A.M. Nicol. 1989. Herbage intake of cattle, sheep and goats grazed alone and in mixtures on ryegrass-white clover pasture.Animal Production 48: 630–631 (Abstr.).
Conway, G.R. 1985. Agroecosystem analysis.Agricultural Administration 20: 31–55.
Crane, A.J. 1982. Man's impact on climate. In:Food, Nutrition and Climate, edited by K.L. Blaxter and L. Fowden. London, U.K.: Applied Science Publishers. pp. 313–354.
Cruz, M.L., T.R. Preston, and A.W. Speedy. 1989. Protein sources for monogastric and ruminant livestock in the Cauca Valley of Colombia.Animal Production 48: 660 (Abstr.).
Davis, C.H. and T.R. Preston. 1983. A combined biogas digester and gasholder made from PVC plastic tube. In:Fourth Animal Seminar on Maximum Livestock Production from Minimum Land, edited by T.R. Preston et al. Australia: Graduate School of Tropical veterinary science, James Cook University. pp 91–97.
Dodhwal, K.S., N. Pratap, and S.K. Dhyani. 1989. Agroforestry systems in the Garhwal Himalayas of India.Agroforestry Systems 7: 213–226.
Energy Committee of the House of Commons (ECHC). 1989.Energy Policy Implications of the Greenhouse Effect. London, U.K.: HMSO.
Gowan, D. 1972.Slurry and Farm Waste Disposal. Suffolk, U.K.: Farming Press.
Grigg, D. 1985.The World Food Problem 1950–1980. Oxford, U.K.: Blackwell.
Gropp, J.M. and D.R.T. Birzer. 1992. Ecological and economic benefits of growth promoters. InFarm Animals and the Environment, edited by C.J.C. Phillips and D. Piggins. Slough, U.K.: CAB. pp. 413–417.
Heissenhuber, A. and J. Reitmayr. 1992. Assessment of milk yield with particular respect to the ecological affects in the FRG. In:Farm Animals and the Environment, edited by C.J.C. Phillips and D. Piggins. Slough, U.K.: CAB. pp. 417–419.
Jabber, M.A. 1983. Effect of use of cows on fertility, milk production and consumption. In:Fourth Annual Seminar on Maximum Livestock Production from Minimum Land, edited by T.R. Preston et al. Australia: Graduate School of Tropical Veterinary science, James Cook University. pp. 71–85.
Korevaar, H. 1991.The Nitrogen Balance in Intensive Dutch Dairy Farms: A Review. Paper presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of European Association of Animal Production. September 1991, Berlin, Germany. 18 pp.
Kristensen, E.S. 1990.Omlaegning fra konventionel til okologisk drift—tekniskokonomisk belyst. Report 681., Foulum, Denmark: Natl. Inst. Anim. Sci. pp. 131–139.
— and J.T. Sorensen. 1990. Organic livestock systems: A research methodology and preliminary results.Alternative Agriculture, Uppsala 5: 255–263.
Kristensen, E.S. and J.T. Sorensen. 1991. Development of sustainable livestock farming systems: Methodology and results. Paper presented at the 11th AFSR/E Annual Symposium Oct. 5–10 1991. Michigan State University, East Lansing Michigan, USA, 12 pp.
— and I.S. Kristensen. 1992.Analysis of Nitrogen Surplus and Efficiency on Organic and Conventional Dairy Farms. Rep. 710. Foulum, Denmark: Natl. Inst. Anim. Sci. 54 pp. [With English summary.]
Lockyer, D.R., B.F. Pain, and J.V. Klarenbeck. 1989. Ammonia emissions from cattle, pigs and poultry wastes applied to pasture.Environmental Pollution 56: 19–30
Marai, I.F.M. and J.M. Forbes. 1989. New techniques in environmental control for cattle. In:New Techniques in Cattle Production, edited by C.J.C. Phillips. London, U.K.: Butterworths Scientific. pp. 121–129.
Nagy, J.G. and J.H. Sanders. 1990. Agricultural technology development and dissemination within a farming systems prospective.Agricultural Systems 32: 305–320.
Nolan, T and Connolly, J. 1977. Mixed stocking by sheep and steers—a review.Herbage Abstracts 47: 367–374.
Orskov, E.R. 1983. The oesophageal groove reflex and its practical implications in the nutrition of young ruminants. In:Fourth Seminar on Maximum Livestock Production from Minimal Land edited by T.R. Preston et al. Australia: Graduate School of Tropical veterinary sciences, James Cook University. pp. 47–53.
Owen, J.B. and R.F.E. Axford (ed.). 1991.Breeding for disease resistance in farm animals. 499. Wallingford, U.K.: CAB International.
Parikh, B.M. and K.G. Aswani. 1987. Pollution abatement — a paying proposition.Chemical Age of India 38: 271–276.
Parsons, A.J., R.J. Orr, P.D. Penning, and D.R. Lockyer. 1991. Uptake, cycling and fate of nitrogen in grass-clover swards continuously grazed by sheep.Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Cambridge 116: 47–61.
Phillips, C.J.C. and S.A. Schofield. 1989. The effect of supplementary light on the production and behaviour of dairy cows.Animal Production 48: 293–303.
Preston, T.R. and R.A. Leng. 1987. Matching ruminant production systems with available resources in the tropics and sub-tropics. Armidale, New South Wales: Penambul Books. 245 pp.
— and L. Vaccaro. 1989. Dual purpose cattle production systems. In:New Techniques in Cattle Production edited by C.J.C. Phillips. London, U.K.: Butterworths Scientific. pp. 20–32.
Robinson, I. 1989. Farm animal welfare in extensive systems. In:Proceedings of a Course on Farm Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Bangor, U.K.: School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University College of North Wales.
Sainsbury, D.W.B. 1989. New techniques in cattle health control. In:New Techniques in Cattle Production edited by C.J.C. Phillips. London, U.K.: Butterworths Scientific. pp. 143–148.
Sorensen, J.T. and E.S. Kristensen. 1993. Systemic modelling: A research methodology in livestock farming. In:Global Appraisal of Livestock Farming Systems and Study on their Organisational Levels: Concepts, Methodology and Results, edited by A. Gibon, G. Matheron, and B. Vissac. Commission of the European Communities (in press).
Spedding, C.R.W., J.N. Walsingham, and A.M. Hoxey. 1981.Biological Efficiency in Agriculture. London, U.K.: Academic Press. 344 pp.
Tamminga, S. 1992. Gaseous pollutants produced by farm animal enterprises. In:Farm Animals and the Environment, edited by C.J.C. Phillips and D. Piggins. Slough, U.K.: CAB. pp. 345–358.
Van Buren, A. 1979.A Chinese Biogas Manual. London, U.K.: Intermediate Technology Group. 135 pp.
Wilkins, R.J. and M. Bather. 1981. Potential for changes in support energy use in animal output from grassland. In:Grassland in the British Economy, edited by J.L. Jollans. Reading, U.K.: Centre for Agricultural Strategy. pp. 511–520.
Winkler, C. and J. Steinback. 1991. Comparative studies of organic and conventional dairy farms in a hill region of Germany. In:Proc. Inst. Conf. on Alternatives in Animal Husbandry, Witzenhausen, edited by E. Boehncke and V. Molkenthin. Germany. pp. 321–327.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Phillips, C.J.C., Sorensen, J.T. Sustainability in cattle production systems. J Agric Environ Ethics 6, 61–73 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01965615
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01965615